saunders



March 17, 1964 s. L. SAUNDERS 3,125,304

HYDRAULIC RELEASE FOR CRUSHERS Filed April 11, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

By arfer F ('arzer March 17, 1964 G. L. SAUNDERS 3,125,304

HYDRAULIC RELEASE FOR CRUSHERS Filed April 11. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

6115/ jazz/Idem, parfer {1 [a/ zea March 17, 1964 E S 3,125,304

HYDRAULIC RELEASE FOR CRUSHERS Filed April 11, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

" ay L. $aanaers, Par er 5 5! March 17, 1964 G. SAUNDERS HYDRAULIC RELEASE FOR CRUSHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 11, 1961 l l g i 6 INVENTOR.

61/ 0 Z. fauna em, BY Parker [affer- #f/omqy:

United States Patent 3,125,304 HYDRAULHC RELEASE FOR CRUSHERS Guy L. Saunders, Toronto, Untario, Canada, assignor to Nordberg Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Win, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 162,246 8 Claims. (Cl. 24l=23l) This invention relates to a means for releasably mounting the bowl of a cone crusher, for example a gyratory crusher, to the crusher main frame.

One purpose of this invention is a hydraulic system for use on a cone crusher or the like which is effective to raise and lower the bowl relative to the main frame of the crusher.

Another purpose is a hydraulic release for cone crushers or the like which yieldingly holds or mounts the bowl on the crusher main frame.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings. and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of the hydraulic system used in the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a partial top plan View, in part section, of the bowl mounting means,

FIGURE 3 is a section along plane 33 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a side View, in part section, showing the details of the hydraulic release in normal or operating position,

FIGURE 5 is a View, similar to FIGURE 4, showing the release in the full released position, and

FIGURE 6 is a view, similar to FIGURES 4 and 5, showing the hydraulic release in two intermediate positions.

The hydraulic system of this invention is shown in FIG- URE 1. The operation of the entire system will be explained first, and the operation of each individual cylinder will be described later. A plurality of cylinders 10 are each connected to the high pressure side of the hydraulic system through pipes 12. A pressure switch 14 and an accumulator 15 may be connected in the high pressure side and are effective to stop the crusher motor when the pressure rises above 3,000 p.s.i., or above the normal operating level maintained by the high pressure pumps. The pressure for the high pressure side of the system is maintained by a pump 16 which supplies hydraulic fluid from a reservoir 18 through a check valve to the lines 12. A release valve 22 is placed in the high pressure side to maintain the pressure at a predescribed level, for example 3,000 psi A shutoff valve 24- controls relase of the fluid from the high pressure side of the system.

The opposite side of each cylinder is connected to the low pressure side of the system through pipes or the like 26. It is not necessary to maintain fluid in the low pres sure side of the system under normal operative conditions. However, it may be done to save time in filling the low pressure side when the bowl is to be raised. A pump 23 supplies fluid from the reservoir 13 to the pipes 26. A release valve 3% and a shutofl" valve 32 perform the same functions as the release valve 22 and the shutofl valve 24 on the high side.

In FIGURE 3, showing the normal operating position, the crusher frame is indicated generally at 34 and includes a lower flange M, an upstanding frame portion 33 and an upper flange 49 having an outwardly extending apron 42 The flange 40 has an inner, upwardly conic surface 44 which mates with a similar conic surface 46 on the bowl ring 48. The bowl ring has an inner surface Stl which is screw threaded to adjustably position a bowl 52.

ice

The bowl may have an upwardly and inwardly conic portion 54 which receives a bowl liner 56, as is conventional. The crushing head indicated at 58 defines a crushing cavity 66 with the bowl liner 56.

A plurality of spring assemblies as, which are circumferentially arranged around the crusher, cooperate with the hydraulic jacks lid to yieldingly hold the bowl ring and bowl to the frame of the crusher. Each of the spring assemblies 62 have a plurality, in this case two, holddown bolts 64 which extend upwardly through an opening 66 in the apron 42 and through an opening 68 in the bowl ring 48. Each of the holddown bolts 64 have a head 73 with a generally spherical bottom surface which nests in a spherical depression in the apron 42. The holddown bolts 64 each carry a lifting collar '72 which under normal operating conditions is spaced from the bottom of the bowl ring 48. The small space between the collar 72 and the bowl ring permits limited upward movement of the bolts 64 before the bowl ring is raised.

A plurality of torsion pins 74 may be positioned in an upwardly extending portion '76 of the apron 4-2 and extend into openings 78 in the bowl ring 43. The torsion pins prevent the bolts 64 from being sheared oil when the bowl and bowl ring move relative to the frame during operation. A small cap or the like 80 may cover the opening '78 to prevent the torsion pins from being inadvertently removed.

Each of the spring assemblies include an upper plate 82, integral or fixed to the cylinder, and a lower plate $4 spaced from the upper plate. A plurality of spring bolts 86 may be fixedly mounted or secured to the upper plate and extend through the lower plate tld. Nuts 88 mount the lower plate 84 to the spring bolts 86. Each of the spring bolts is encircled by a coiled spring 90. The holddown bolts 64 pass through the upper plates 82 and are solidly connected to the lower plates at boss 92. Coil springs 94, similar to the springs 9t), encircle the holddown bolts 64 between the upper and lower plates.

Each of the holddown bolts and spring bolts are circumferentially arranged around the upper and lower plates and are spaced one from another by a plurality of flanges or the like 96 which extend downwardly and inwardly from the upper plate to mount a cylinder 98 adjacent the center of each spring assembly. The cylinder may be integral with the flanges. A piston Mill is mounted in each cylinder 98 and has a piston rod 1W2 extending upwardly through the upper plate 82 and fixed to the apron 42. A line 194 extends from the bottom of each cylinder and connects each cylinder to the high pressure hydraulic system as was described hereinbefore.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the normal operating position of the spring assemblies and the hydraulic jacks. The chamber W6 below the piston ltltl contains a high pressure fluid which maintains the piston in proper position, tight up against plate 82. The opposite side of the piston may or may not have a fluid at a lower pressure as described before. Each piston is fixed to the crusher frame, and each cylinder may be integral with the upper plate 82. The upper plate 82, through the spring bolts 36 is connected to the lower plate, holding springs 9d and 94 at predetermined loaded working length. The springs 9th and 94 permit relative movement between the upper and lower plates during normal operation, which allows for extra hard rock. When uncrushable material, such as tramp iron or other noncrushable objects become caught in the crushing cavity, the springs will become further compressed as the lower plates are drawn upward by bolts 64. Such uncrushable material will raise the bowl ring and bowl, which through bolts 64 raise each lower plate to compress the springs, as shown at the left hand side of FIGURE 6. At this point the crusher may e stopped by the increase in pressure applied to the fluid in chamber 1%.

To raise the bowl or to release the bowl so that the tramp iron or other uncrushable material may be removed from the crushing cavity, the high pressure fluid in the chamber 106 is released so that springs 96 and 94 extend to the full predetermined length allowed by the spring bolts 86. The extended position of the springs is illustrated at the right side of FIGURE 6. It may be necessary to supply some lower pressure fluid to allow the springs to come to this position.

After the springs are released, low pressure fluid supplied to the other side of the piston moves each cylinder upwardly toward the piston until the position of FIGURE is reached. FIGURE 5 shows the full release position. As can be seen from FIGURE 5, the upper plate 82 is raised until it contacts the apron 42. As plate 82 moves upwardly, it carries the lower plate by the spring bolts 86. Movement of the lower plate in an upward direction carries the bolts 64 upward. As the holddown bolts move upward, the thrust collars '72 contact the bottom of the bowl ring 48 and move the bowl upward. The distance through which the bowl is moved upward may be adjusted by regulating the amount of low pressure fluid that is supplied to the cylinders.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

Shown and described herein is an improved means for releasing the bowl of a cone crusher, for example a gyratory crusher. Although it is not shown in the drawings, a locking ring may be used to prevent relative rotation between the bowl and the bowl ring. A primary purpose of the invention is to provide a release means for the bowl so that the bowl may be moved upward to permit clearance of the crushing cavity.

This invention should be considered against the background of a cone crusher in which the head 58 is gyrated to approach the bowl liner 56 with a circumferential movement. The bowl is normally stationary. The above described spring and jack system, in the normal use of the crusher, holds the bowl in its predetermined position or setting by holding the adjustment ring 48 downwardly against the conic surface 44 of the top flange 4t). The springs are available for release in the event that uncrushable material enters the above-defined crushing cavity.

Assume that an uncrushable mass enters the cavity, the continued gyration of the head 58 urges it against the bowl and at some point about the circumference of the crushing cavity the uncrushable mass forces the bowl or bowl liner 56 upwardly and outwardly. The adjustment ring 48 tilts in relation to the top flange 40 and the surface 46 recedes from the surface 44 and compresses, through the holddown bolts 64 several sets of springs. FIGURES 3 and 4 show a set of springs in their normal position which they will hold during normal crushing.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the full release position in which the cylinder 92'; abuts its upper end at the upper plate 32.

Whereas FIGURE 5 illustrates the end result, the intermediate stages are indicated at the opposite sides of FIG- URE 6, the left hand side of which shows the position of a spring and jack set which have been raised by an obstruction or uncrushable body in the crushing cavity. At the right hand side of FIGURE 6 I illustrate an intermediate stage in which the high pressure oil has been released and the springs have been allowed to return to full working length. The final stage is shown in FIGURE 5, where the low pressure oil has lifted the bowl from the obstruction to be removed. When the obstruction is freed, then the spring and jack sets can be allowed to revert to their number one position of FIGURES 1 and 4.

The invention includes a fluid system which is used both to hold the bowl ring to the crusher frame and to release the bowl ring and bowl from the crusher frame. In particular, a high pressure fluid is normally supplied to a plurality of jacks which are circumferentially arranged around the crusher. The jacks are effective to hold the bowl ring yieldingly to the crusher frame through the spring assemblies. When it is desired to raise the bowl, the high pressure fluid in the jacks is withdrawn so that low pressure fluid, on the other side of the piston, forces each cylinder to move upward toward its piston. In this connection, it is the cylinder which moves and not the piston as the piston is connected to the crusher frame. Accordingly, as the cylinder moves upward toward the piston it carries with it the holddown bolts which are connected to the bowl ring.

The hydraulic system includes a single fluid reservoir which supplies both the high and low pressure sides of the hydraulic system through a variety of pressure relief valves and pumps. Normally high pressure fluid is supplied through the lines 12 to each of the individual jacks 10. Pump 16 supplies this fluid through the check valve 20. When it is desired to raise the bowl and the bowl ring, valve 24 is opened and the high pressure fluid is removed from the jacks. At the same time, pump 28 supplies a lower pressure fluid to the opposite side of each of the jacks to thereby move each cylinder upwardly upon its piston. When it is desired to again lower the bowl back down into the crusher, valve 32 is opened to release the low pressure fluid and pump 16 is again activated to supply the high pressure fluid through the lines 12 to the jacks.

Before any raising can be done, the high pressure fluid must be released in sufficient quantity to allow the springs to elongate from their load-working length to their contained-length where they exercise no holddown force. At this stage no hydraulic force has caused the bowl any upward motion. To raise the bowl it now requires the application of low pressure fluid and the further release of the fluid on the high pressure side, control of which could regulate the further upward travel.

By regulating the amount of high pressure fluid that is normally within the cylinders, the spacing between the bowl liner and the crushing head may be adjusted. For example, if it is only desired to raise the bowl threequarters of the total allowable spacing between the bowl and crushing head, the hydraulic system can be accordin gly regulated.

Under normal operating conditions, the bowl and bowl ring are yieldingly held to the crusher frame by the spring assemblies. When uncrushable material becomes trapped in the crushing cavity, the bowl and bowl liner move upward against the force of springs and 94. The crusher may then be stopped and the bowl released as described herein.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there are many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic system of bowl release for a cone crusher having a main frame, a bowl supporting ring on said main frame, a bowl mounted on said ring, means for yieldingly holding said ring fixed on said main frame, but formed and adapted to permit its movement in relation to the frame during crushing, including a plurality of spring assemblies circumferentially arranged around the periphery of said crusher, and a plurality of hydraulic jacks circumferentially arranged about the crusher, each of said hydraulic jacks being associated with a spring assembly and including a piston and cylinder, one of which is fixed to the main frame and the other being yieldingly mounted, through the spring assembly, to the bowl ring, each of said spring assemblies including an upper plate and a lower plate spaced therefrom, a plurality of springs between said plates, said cylinder being fixedly mounted on one of said plates and said piston being fixed to the crusher frame.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a hydraulic system connecting each jack, and means for simultaneously regulating the hydraulic fluid to each jack.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of hold down bolts extending through said upper and lower plates and through said main frame, said bolts being connected to said bowl ring, and a spring encircling each of said bolts between said upper and lower plates.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of spring bolts fixedly mounted on said upper plate and extending through said lower plate, and a spring encircling each of said bolts and biasing said plates in opposite directions.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that each of said pistons extend through said upper plate into said hydraulic cylinders, movement of said cylinders toward said piston being effective to raise said bowl ring above said frame.

6. In a hydraulic system of bowl release for a cone crusher having a main frame, a bowl on said main frame, means for yieldingly holding said bowl fixed on said main frame, but formed and adapted to permit its movement in relation to the main frame when uncrushable material is present in the crushing cavity, including a plurality of spring assemblies circumferentially arranged around the periphery of said crusher, and a hydraulic jack associated with each spring assembly, each jack including a piston and cylinder, one of which is fixed to the main frame with the other being yieldingly connected to the bowl, and a hydraulic system interconnecting each of said jacks and arranged to supply high pressure fluid thereto to thereby maintain said bowl upon said frame.

7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that each jack is double acting and said hydraulic system includes means for supplying a low pressure fluid to one side of each piston While removing said high pressure fluid from the opposite side.

8. In a hydraulic system of bowl release for a cone crusher having a main frame, a bowl on said main frame, means for yieldingly holding said bowl fixed on said main frame, but formed and adapted to permit its movement in relation to the main frame when uncrushable material is present in the crushing cavity, including a plurality of spring assemblies, circumferentially arranged around the periphery of said crusher, and a hydraulic jack associated with each spring assembly, each jack including a piston and cylinder, one of which is connected to the main frame, with the other being connected to the bowl, one of said connections being yielding, and a hydraulic system for connecting each of said jacks and arranged to supply high pressure fluid thereto to maintain said bowl upon said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,571 Bjarrne June 8, 1954 2,791,383 Kjelgaard May 7, 1957 3,009,660 Symons et al. Nov. 21, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 835,472 Great Britain May 18, 1960 1,212,430 France Oct. 19, 1959 

1. IN A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OF BOWL RELEASE FOR A CONE CRUSHER HAVING A MAIN FRAME, A BOWL SUPPORTING RING ON SAID MAIN FRAME, A BOWL MOUNTED ON SAID RING, MEANS FOR YIELDINGLY HOLDING SAID RING FIXED ON SAID MAIN FRAME, BUT FORMED AND ADAPTED TO PERMIT ITS MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE FRAME DURING CRUSHING, INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPRING ASSEMBLIES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ARRANGED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CRUSHER, AND A PLURALITY OF HYDRAULIC JACKS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ARRANGED ABOUT THE CRUSHER, EACH OF SAID HYDRAULIC JACKS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A 